Dissidents linked to alias Calarcá are reportedly pressuring farmers in four Huila municipalities to vote for Iván Cepeda in the June 21 presidential runoff.
According to complaints from official sources and deputy Omar Alexis Díaz, the Iván Díaz and Rodrigo Cadete fronts of the Jorge Suárez Briceño bloc are summoning community leaders in Algeciras, Tello, Baraya and Campoalegre. The meetings demand support for the National Government candidate under threat of consequences such as forced labor.
Huila Government Secretary Liliana Vásquez reported that the Public Ministry alerted about coercion in rural areas. Authorities have increased military presence in the affected municipalities and guarantee the right to vote without interference.
A decree from the Interior Ministry prohibits the use of cell phones and cameras at polling stations between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Vásquez noted that justice tables will monitor compliance with this rule.
The summons include the formation of peasant guards and the registration of minors under 14, according to testimonies collected by LA NACIÓN. The complaints are filed with the Prosecutor’s Office and the Inspector General’s Office.
